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Former Australian opener David Warner has backed young Sam Konstas to do well against England in the Ashes 2025-26. Warner wants the selectors to stick with Konstas on the back of his hundred against India A. He feels that Konstas was overwhelmed by the occasion during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
"I'd like them to try and probably stick with Sam and give him a crack," Warner said at Kayo Sports' Summer of Cricket launch in Sydney. "He scored that hundred in the Australian A series [in India last month]. He batted outstanding there.
"I don't think we've seen exactly what we know Sam Konstas can do. Last year... he probably got overwhelmed by the occasion and we saw some very highlighted cricket. But I've seen him build innings, I've seen him play some fantastic innings and I'd like to see him go back to just doing that."
While England have enough firepower in their pace attack, Warner feels there is noone in the lineup who is at Bumrah’s level last year. The southpaw does not want the 20-year-old to make changes in his game and play normally, countering the bowlers.
"They don't have a Jasprit Bumrah so he doesn't have to worry about that," Warner said. "They've got some fast bowlers but he can tackle that.
"Last year, I felt like he just got caught up in the occasions. He got caught up in thinking it was the only way to play that way against Bumrah and then did it to the other players.
"I don't think he needed to change his game to the other bowlers. He could have just stayed there and played the normal way. There was one guy that was getting a lot of people out and… [Konstas] just didn't want to get out to him because he was bringing the ball back in.
"He countered that and he could have went back in and just batted normally. So I think if he can work out that and identify those periods, I think he'll go a long way."
No opening spot for Labuschagne – Warner
In addition to Konstas, Warner wants Marnus Labuschagne to be a part of the Test side as well. He does not want Australia to see Labuschagne as an opener in the Ashes.
"I think when you've got a lot of Test cricket under your belt, you know what he's capable of and know what he can do," he said. "If someone's averaging 50 in Test cricket, you've probably got to go back to that. Does he open? I wouldn't like to see him open. I'd like him to shuffle back down to three."
Labuschagne recently faced snub from selectors for the ODI series against India at home. However, he is proving his worth in domestic cricket, scoring three centuries in four games (two List A tons).
Australia are expected to announce their Ashes squad later this week. There are question marks over Pat Cummins’ availability as he is yet to start bowling in the nets.
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